Islamabad, Pakistan: The notification has been released by the Interior Ministry here on Friday. The Pakistan Army will man capital security till October 17, 2024.
The decision was taken in the backdrop of PTI’s announcement of protests in the country and the apparent failure of civilian law enforcement agencies to handle the situation on October 4, 2024, when PTI followers managed to engage police and reached near D-Chowk Islamabad Islamabad that is in Red Zone of capital. All roads leading to Islamabad were sealed with cargo containers and cell phone service was suspended in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
According to the notification, the army was deployed for the SCO Summit under Article 245, the army will be deployed in Islamabad till October 17 during the SCO Summit. It should be remembered that the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be held in Islamabad on October 15 and 16.
It is pertinent to mention that Interior Minister Mohsan Naqvi suggested that PTI postpone its protest on Friday because the Malaysian Prime Minister is in Islamabad along with over a hundred foreign delegations. Meanwhile, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of JUI, also demanded that PTI postpone its protest until the SCO events end in Pakistan. It is pertinent to mention that paramilitary forces including Pakistan Rangers have been deployed to secure the Red Zone. However, PTI rejected all such demands and its followers are trying to gather around the venue of the protest that falls under the red-zone area of the capital.
Mohsan Naqvi while addressing a press conference on Thursday confirmed that the arrested Afghan national had spiked batons, slingshots, and marbles for attacking the police. The majority of Afghans who were arrested had been living in areas of Bara Kahu, Tarnol, and Sangjani.
Meanwhile, national highways such as G.T Road, Lahore-Islamabad Motorway, and all connecting roads to motorways were also closed so the PTI procession could not reach Islamabad. Security barriers, including containers, were installed at entry points from Rawalpindi to Islamabad, including locations like Rawat T-Chowk, Khanna Pul, Faizabad Interchange, Murree Road, and Peshawar Road.
PTI’s Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had already announced an arms struggle against the state of Pakistan and he directed his supporters to win a “battle for true freedom” and urged participants to “break the chains of fear.”
Islamabad and Rawalpindi were virtually disconnected from other parts of the country and all important roads within Rawalpindi were also closed down as below:
Faizabad, Murree Road, Faizul Islam was closed to all traffic.
Stadium Road, Double Road was closed to all types of traffic.
Sakth Road Chowk, Chandni Chowk, and C Block Chowk were also closed to traffic.
Khanna Bridge, Sahi Chowk, Naz Cinema, Kohati Bazar Mor, and Liaquat Bagh were closed.
Traffic Police DAV College Chowk, Murir Chowk, MH Chowk, and Hyader Road are also closed for all traffic.
Kachhari Chowk and Kachhari to Coral Old Airport Road were open for all types of traffic.
Sawan Bridge was open for single-line traffic.
T Chowk Rawat, Margalla Turn Purodhai was closed to all traffic.
Khayaban, Shah Najaf, Carriage Factory, 26 Chongi, Naka was closed for all traffic.
Charing Cross and Dhamma Saidan were also closed to all traffic.
Khawaja Corporation was open for all types of traffic.
Chuck Belly Mor Rawat Mandira Mor, Masa Kaswal, GT Road Gujjar Khan was closed for all traffic.
Daultala Mor, GT Road Chakwal was closed for all traffic.
Koral Chowk was closed to traffic.
